Biography John Raphael Smith

Smith was born in Derby, the son of Thomas Smith a landscape painter known as "Smith of Derby". At 16, J.R. Smith tried his hand at engraving while in London. He found his talent in mezzotinting. Turner and Girtin were once employed by him and Peter Dewit as well as James and William Ward were among his students.

Nearly 400 mezzotints by Smith have been recorded of the highest quality. He regularly worked with paintings by Reynold Romney Moreland and other popular artists. He contributed often at the Royal Academy from 1779-1805 with works of oil, crayon and mezzotint. He died in 1812 at the age of 60.